DATE= 11/3/97 TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT NUMBER=5-37974 TITLE=U-S FORCES / IRAQ BYLINE=JIM RANDLE DATELINE=PENTAGON CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE UNITED STATES HAS A VARIETY OF AIRCRAFT AND WEAPONS IN THE GULF REGION, SHOULD THE DISPUTE OVER BAGHDAD'S BANNING OF AMERICAN WEAPONS INSPECTORS ESCALATE INTO MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAQ. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON. TEXT: // SFX: F/A-18'S LANDING ON AIRCRAFT CARRIER DECK // THE SOUNDS OF U-S FIGHTERS TAKING OFF AND LANDING ON AIRCRAFT CARRIERS MAY GET LOUDER AND MORE FREQUENT IF WASHINGTON AND THE UNITED NATIONS CANNOT WORK OUT THEIR DIFFERENCES WITH BAGHDAD. THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER U-S-S NIMITZ IS ALREADY IN THE GULF; IT CARRIES 73 PLANES, INCLUDING ABOUT THREE-DOZEN F-A-18'S THAT CAN EASILY HIT GROUND TARGETS DEEP IN IRAQ WITH BOMBS OR MISSILES. THE NIMITZ IS ACCOMPANIED BY 16 OTHER SHIPS, ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF WHICH ARE CAPABLE OF LAUNCHING UNMANNED, GUIDED CRUISE MISSILES THAT HAVE BEEN USED AGAINST IRAQ BEFORE. THESE FAIRLY ACCURATE WEAPONS CAN ALSO HIT TARGETS DEEP IN IRAQ. THE CRUISE MISSILES ARE DIFFICULT TO SHOOT DOWN BECAUSE THEY FLY AT A LOW ALTITUDE, BELOW RADAR LEVEL, AND ARE TOO SMALL TO EASILY HIT WITH ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE. THE U-S AIR FORCE CAN ALSO LAUNCH A VERSION OF THE CRUISE MISSILE. HEAVY BOMBERS, SUCH AS THE B-ONE OR THE B-52, HAUL THE MISSILES FROM BASES THOUSANDS OF KILOMETERS AWAY AND LAUNCH THEM WITHOUT ENTERING IRAQI AIRSPACE. THE AIR FORCE ALSO HAS ABOUT 100 OTHER PLANES -- MOSTLY FIGHTERS -- BASED NEAR IRAQ TO ENFORCE THE U-N "NO-FLY" ZONES. THESE PLANES FLY DAILY MISSIONS OVER IRAQ, FULLY ARMED AND READY FOR COMBAT. THEY CAN REACH AND STRIKE TARGETS ANYWHERE IN IRAQ. THE F-117 RADAR-EVADING "STEALTH" FIGHTERS THAT WERE WIDELY USED DURING THE GULF WAR ARE NOT CURRENTLY DEPLOYED IN THE GULF, BUT A U-S AIR FORCE OFFICIAL SAYS THEY ARE "ALWAYS AVAILABLE" IF COMMANDERS THINK THEY ARE NEEDED. // OPT // THE AIR FORCE OFFICIAL SAYS THE ALLIED JOINT TASK FORCE BASED NEAR IRAQ ALSO INCLUDES ABOUT FIVE-THOUSAND AMERICAN SOLDIERS, CONTINGENTS OF FRENCH AND BRITISH AIRCRAFT, AND A U-S ARMY UNIT THAT OPERATES PATRIOT AIR DEFENSE MISSILES. // END OPT // SINCE THE GULF WAR, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL INCIDENTS OF ARMED CONFLICT WITH IRAQ. IN ONE OF THE MORE RECENT CONFRONTATIONS, PRESIDENT CLINTON ORDERED THE LAUNCH OF DOZENS OF CRUISE MISSILES AT IRAQI ANTI-AIRCRAFT SITES AFTER IRAQI FORCES ATTACKED KURDISH ENCLAVES IN NORTHERN IRAQ. (SIGNED) NEB/JR/RRM 03-Nov-97 4:24 PM EST (2124 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
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